Charcoal block



July 12, 1932. I G. F. HEFFERNAN, JR 1,865,931

CHARCOAL BLOCK Filed Feb. 25. 1931 Patented July 12, 1932 GEORGE F.HEFFERNAN, JR., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI CHARCOAL BLOCK Application filedFebruary 25, 1931. serial No. 518,141.

This invention relates to charcoal blocks and an object of the inventionis to provide a charcoal block designed and adapted for use in censersand for other purposes to which such devices may be satisfactorilyapplied, and comprising a body of combustible material supporting anignition device that will readily be ignited by friction and willthereby'ignite the block.

Another object of the invention is to provide a block of combustiblematerial for the uses indicated and comprising meansV for ig-v nitingthe block speedily and wit-hout diiiiculty,v and means for distributingon the block incense usually used in ceremonials in which these devicesare employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combustibledevice designed and adapted to be burned in a censer and having meansfacilitating the passage of air to the underside of the block seatedupon the bottom of the censer.

Various yother objects and advantages of the device will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Fig. l is a sectional view of the device in a censerused in religious ceremonials.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device removed from the censer.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 5 is a. sectionalview on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the block on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

The invention shown comprises a circular body l of combustiblesubstance. These blocks are usually called charcoalv blocks even thoughthey may include other ingredients or constituents.

The body 1 is designed and adapted to be placed in a censer 2 forcombustion and used in religious ceremonials. The censer shown is offamiliarv construction and encloses a removable bowl 3 in which thecombustible block is placed'and in which the combustible body iscontained during combustion.'

The upper side of the body 1 is concave and the lower side is convex.The upper side of the block is formed with a series of radial ribs 4Lhaving their inner ends in connection with an annular rib 5. These ribs4. divide the upper concave surfaceof the block into segment-al spacesthat are designed, and adapted to receive and retain incense deliveredthereto during combustion of the block and during the performance of theceremonials. These ribs expeditethe ignition of the body from theignition device, and they also serve to spread the incense that isdropped on the body during combustion.

The annular rib 5 surrounds a hole 6 that tapers downwardly and enclosesan ignition `device 7 that will be readily ignited by friction orrubbing in the manner in which a match is ignited by friction orrubbing. The upper end of the ignition device projects above the ribs 4land 5 so that said ignition device may conveniently be subjected torubbing or friction and thereby ignited while the device is in thecenser, as shown in Fig. l. The protruding end of the ignition deviceprevents the incense from smothering the fire at the ignition device 7and causes the incense to spread onto the body l.v It is a familiar factthat the top portion 8 of the censer iS removable so as to permit accessto the inside of the censer. Accordingly, the top portion 8 may beraisedto permit the application of friction to the ignition device 7 in orderto ignite the same and which will continueto burn until the body isignited.

The ribs land 5 projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the bodybecome readily ignited and, because they are somewhat attenuated, theyfacilitate and expedite ignition of the body 1 at spaced. points. f

The lower corner of the body l is rounded as indicated at 9 so as toSeat properly upon the bottom of the bowl 3. -A number of radial groovesl0 are formed in the underside ofthe body l and have their inner endsopening into a circular cavity 11.

The grooves 10 and the cavity l1 permit these devices to be stacked oneupon the other, the-grooves l() receiving the ribs and the cavity 11receiving the iUnition device 7 and the rib 5. Thus, the bloc s can bestacked closely together, the convex lower wall of each block nesting inthe concave upper side of the subjacent block. Accordingly, the blocksmay be stacked so as to occupy aminimum amount of space when kept instock or when shipped.

In use, the block is placed in thecenser in the manner and in thelocation shown in Fig. 1 and may be lighted easily by application offriction to the ignition device 7. While in the censer, the block isprotected from winds and air currents so that there is no diiiculty inigniting the device, as has been encountered heretofore in the useofcharcoal blocks which must be ignited before being placed in thecenser. The grooves 10 facilitate the circulation of ,air under andaround the'block while the block is in the censer, thus promotingcombustion without causing a flame. 'y

The device may be manufactured and sold at comparatively low cost, and,in the particulars mentioned, meets an existing need. The constructionmay be varied within equivaient limits without departurefrom the natureand principleof the invention.

I claim l. A device of the character described comprising abody lofcombustible substance having a concave upper side and a convex lowerside, a series of ribs rising integrally from the concave upper side ofand spreading ig-l nition of said body, and an ignition device embeddednear the center of said body and adapted to be ignited by friction.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body of combustiblesubstance having a concave upper side and a convex lower side, a seriesof ribs integral withand rising from the upper side 0f and Spreadingignition 0f said body, and a friction ignition 'device embeddedapproximately inthe center of said body and having its upper endprojecting upwardly above said body.

3. A device of the character described comprising a body composed ofcombustible'substance having a concave upper side and a convex lowerside and having a recess at the center' of its lower side and a seriesof grooves extending from said recess-outwardly, a series 0f ribs risingfrom the concave upper side of said body, and a friction ignition deviceembedded centrally in said body and projecting upwardly above said ribs.

GEORGE F. HEFFERNAN, JR.

